Simon Whitlock defeated world number two Gary Anderson to clinch the second UK Open qualifier of the season, as Michael van Gerwen suffered another shock early exit at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan on Saturday afternoon.

Whitlock claimed two Players Championship victories in the latter stages of 2016, and continued his fine Pro Tour form after capitalising on Anderson’s miserly 20% checkout success rate to prevail 6-4 in the final.

The Australian was clinical throughout the day and completed his triumph with successive victories over two Premier League stars to scoop the £10,000 winner’s cheque and confirm his spot at the UK Open Finals at Minehead next month.

Anderson overcame double-trouble to register the opening leg of the final via D2, before Whitlock levelled proceedings with a 13-darter. ‘The Flying Scotsman’ continued to struggle in the finishing department, but regained the lead after pinning D7 with his seventh dart at double.

‘The Wizard’ fired straight back however. He began the fourth leg with a brilliant 177, before converting an effortless two-dart 84 kill for an 11-dart hold. Anderson crashed in his second maximum to round-off a 14-darter for the fifth successive hold of throw, before a dramatic sixth leg ensued.

The world number two conjured up a majestic 177 set up shot to leave D12 after 12 darts, but he was unable to convert the break opportunity. The Scot spurned three clear darts at D12 as Whitlock gratefully sank D10 to draw level once more.

This galvanised the Aussie who kicked off the seventh leg with five perfect darts and pegged D16 to break inside 14 darts after Anderson had wired the bull for a 161 out-shot in the preceding visit.

The Scot appeared poised to break back instantly after leaving 20 after just 12 darts but Whitlock dispatched a stunning 154 checkout (T19, T19, D20) to hold and move to within a leg of victory.

Anderson continued to battle however and converted a regulation two-dart 65 kill to stay alive. Yet once again, missed doubles plagued the two-time world champion. The Scot missed D8 for a 136 checkout which would have forced a decider, as Whitlock converted a nerveless 94 checkout on tops to clinch the second UK Open qualifier of the weekend.

Whitlock recovered from his early exit in Friday’s opening qualifier to storm into the final. ‘The Wizard’ was stunned 6-1 by Rob Cross in round-two yesterday, but overcame a host of established stars on Saturday afternoon. The Australian began his campaign strongly, dropping just three legs in seeing off Alan Tabern Jr. and Latvian star Madars Razma.

Whitlock then battled past quick-fire Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena in round-four, before dumping out Friday’s winner Peter Wright 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals. The two-time world finalist met Ian White in the last eight, but Whitlock held his nerve to edge a last-leg decider to seal a spot in the semi-finals.

‘The Wizard’ faced Dave Chisnall in the semi’s, after ‘Chizzy’ defeated Scott Taylor, Ryan de Vreede, James Wade and Steve Beaton to reach the last four. Chisnall had won three of his last four meetings against the Aussie, but Whitlock produced a clinical performance to triumph by an emphatic 6-2 scoreline.

Anderson had kicked off proceedings with a whitewash victory over Ryan Searle, before easing past Luke Woodhouse 6-3 to reach round-four. ‘The Flying Scotsman’ then recorded comfortable victories over Chris Quantock and Jamie Lewis respectively to seal a spot in the quarter-finals.

Brendan Dolan awaited in the last eight, after the Northern Irishman survived three match darts against Raymond van Barneveld in the last 16. Nevertheless, Anderson thrashed the ‘History-Maker’ 6-1 after converting stunning finishes of 170 and 128.

In the semi-finals, the two-time world champion faced his fellow Premier League star Jelle Klaasen, who had defeated Dyson Parody, Scott Dale, John Henderson, Richard North and Ryan Palmer to reach the last four. However, Anderson continued his fine form and confirmed his place in the final with an impressive 6-3 win over ‘The Cobra’.

Michael van Gerwen suffered another shock early exit, losing 6-2 in round-four to former Lakeside world champion Steve Beaton. This is the first time since May 2016 that the world number one has been knocked out before the last 16 in consecutive ranking events, as ‘The Bronzed Adonis’ rolled back the years to prevail emphatically.

Elsewhere, a number of other big names suffered surprise early exits. Friday’s finalist Adrian Lewis was beaten by Rob Cross in round-two, whilst Robert Thornton was whitewashed at the same stage by Ryan Murray. Daryl Gurney and Jamie Caven were also dumped out at the first hurdle for the second day in succession.